For a while now we have all been hearing whispers of a BlackBerry iPad type device that RIM has been apparently working on. Now, sources are confirming to us that the BlackPad (as it has started being called) will not use the BlackBerry OS 6, but instead will use an embedded version of QNX that was acquired in a recent purchase.

The decision not to use BlackBerry OS 6 and build it up for use in the BlackPad apparently is due to legacy code that is still present in OS 6 that makes using it for this purpose not the best decision. The decision to use QNX instead could be a very good long-term decision, as it will give RIM a foundation to do some things that they have not been very successful in within their own OS when it comes to multimedia applications.

Multimedia applications will, of course, be important for the BlackPad as it is targeted to be an entertainment device as well as something for use in the enterprise market space. Still, we know that developer support will be important and we just don’t know enough about what the BlackPad can do or offer to know if developers are going to get fired up to build applications for it. Keep your eye on this one, as it could be successful where many of the other “pad type” devices from other manufacturers may fail.

Our sources tell us that RIM, in conjunction with some carriers in North America, is going to “End-of-Life (EOL)” several BlackBerry models to make way for new offerings. According to the whispers that we are hearing, the rationale behind this is for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is upgradability to OS 6. Several of the targeted models simply do not have enough RAM to handle an OS 6 release, or so we are told.

T-Mobile has stopped additional shipments of the Curve 8500 to retail stores as the company gets ready to launch a device from the Curve 9300 series which will arrive in the next few months. We hear that T-Mobile will as well be adding a new device from the Bold device family, but it isn’t clear yet which one that will be.

Verizon will be making several moves on their BlackBerry offerings, the first of which is to EOL both the Storm 2 and Curve 8530. The Curve 8530 should be officially EOL at Verizon starting on or about August 1st, while the Storm 2 will be EOL starting on or about August 15th. Of course, Verizon will continue to sell inventory that it has on hand.

The move by Verizon makes way for a new Curve from the 9300 family, which will replace the 8530. In addition, we hear rumors of a Storm 3 offering, but whispers as to what this might be are still uncertain at this point.

Sprint will also reportedly be making some changes to its BlackBerry offerings, but it is still unclear exactly what changes they have in store for their BlackBerry customers. As is usual with Sprint, they lag behind on getting their act together on the company’s BlackBerry offerings. Expect to hear more about their plan soon, but we hear that Sprint will likely add a 9300 series Curve offering at some point, as well.

AT&T and RIM have been busy sending out invites for the launch of a mystery product that will be launched in New York on August 3rd. Of course, we already have heard from our sources that the product to be announced will be the new BlackBerry slider that will go by model number 9800.

Besides the fact that the 9800 is the first BlackBerry “slider” model, it will also have a touchscreen. The bigger draw, however, has to be the news that this will be the official coming out party for launch of the new BlackBerry OS 6, which is a big part of the future of the BlackBerry platform while at the same time a very important part of RIM’s strategy going forward.

While our sources seem to be talking a lot about the innovation that OS 6 will bring to the BlackBerry platform, it seems that they are a big more concrete as to the outlook for the 9800 touchscreen slider. As one of our men in the shadows told us, “…it will either be a brilliant move for RIM that will boost sales and go down as a turning point of the history of the BlackBerry platform or it will be a total flop.” It remains to be seen which it will turn out to be, but we don’t think from what we have seen that there will be a lot of in-between on whether people like the 9800 or not.

Sources are confirming to us that Verizon has halted testing for the time being of BlackBerry OS 6 on the Storm 2. From what we have been told, the reason why seems to have more to do with issues with the builds from RIM in conjunction with the lack of RAM on the Storm 2.

From the grumbling that we are hearing, the issue that has come to the surface again is that apparently 256MB just isn’t enough for BlackBerry OS 6, and without more RAM the OS 6 builds seem to perform poorly. Those close to Verizon claim that the 256MB simply isn’t enough.

What might be more interesting is that OS 6 builds are apparently floating around with various carriers for the BlackBerry 9700 256MB version, as well. Apparently, this isn’t an issue with the 256MB version of the 9700, and while not yet bug free, seems to be working fine.

The bigger issue seems to be the lack of guidance and communication from RIM on the requirements for OS 6. As one can imagine, the general consensus has been that 256MB BlackBerry models will not be able to handle OS 6, but apparently RIM has not confirmed this officially.

Right now, things are still up in the air and our sources seem to think that RIM will make an official announcement as the OS 6 gets closer to launch; but in the meantime, it is difficult to say which units are and are not a safe purchase if your goal is to be able to run OS 6. We have to think that 256MB units might be a bad decision if you want OS 6, but till RIM confirms this as fact we will have to just wait and see.